Previews

Battlefield 2 Modern Combat

Of course, Battlefield's bread and butter has always been multiplayer, and the console version follows suit. Up to 24 soldiers can square off online at one time, wielding dozens of weapons or manning dozens of vehicles -- one of which is a civilian car that you can cruise around in. Modern Combat will boast 12 multiplayer maps.

The game types announced so far are multiplayer FPS staples. The goal of capture the flag is more obvious than when the War of 1812 occurred. Conquest is the same game we've been playing all along in this series. Essentially, each side has its own spawn points. You can take these over by clearing out the area and chilling out without dying while your meter fills up. Control all the spawn points, and the world is yours -- figuratively, of course.

While all the hype will likely go to the PC Battlefield 2 -- and deservedly so, as it looks fan-freaking-tastic -- don't discount Modern Combat. It's got what console gamers want, while still offering the best of the series' PC roots. And, of course, hot-swapping is one of the best ideas seen in a video game in years. Here's hoping EA uses this mechanic in its other big franchises -- imagine a heated race in Need for Speed, when you hot-swap into oncoming traffic to cut off your rival. The possibilities are limitless.